Market Brewing Co. in Newmarket, ON, is introducing new beer cans to help reduce plastic waste.

“Coming into 2022, Market Brewing wanted to take the next step in helping to further reduce their plastic use. The largest plastic use that most people don’t realize is sleeved and labelled cans,” said Piers Simpkin, co-owner of the brewery.

Market Brewing has hired a Quebec-based business that only creates digitally printed cans.

“Throughout the last few years, Market Brewing has been developing their green initiative to help offset the environmental footprint of their company, as well as continuing to build a greener future for their families and local communities,” Simpkin said.

This isn’t the first initiative Market Brewing began to help reduce environmental damage. In 2019, they  started a Pak-Tech recycling program. Pak-Techs are the plastic carriers that to-go packs of beer come in at many craft breweries. They are made out of 100 per cent recycled containers.

Customers who bring back a Pak-Tech get a complimentary beer to enjoy either in the taproom or to go while Market Brewing cleans and re-uses the Pak-Techs.

Cardboard cases for 24 packs are also used to package 55 percent of its products. The brewery gets three to four uses out of each case before they need to be fully recycled.

Cardboard is also used when Market Brewing ships its beers to the LCBO and Beer stores. Rather than use plastic shrink wrap to secure its cases, fully enclosed cardboard cases are used.

Another initiative the brewery introduced in September 2019 was switching from its previous can end to a product called the SuperEnd, which reduces metal use by 10 percent to reduce metal use and energy. To date, this change has removed 375 lbs. of metal from being created. 

“With the implementation of these different practices over the last few years, Market Brewing Company feel that they are on a much greener path,” Simpkin said. “They will continue to better themselves as well as their communities.”

These announcements come ahead of Earth Day, which is on April 22, to encourage other companies to closely examine their production and how they can help the environment. 

Photo courtesy of Market Brewing Co.